NAKURU, Kenya, Oct 14 — The National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) has called for disaster risk reduction to be integrated into development planning and investment, warning that projects that overlook potential hazards could expose communities to new vulnerabilities. Breaking It Down NDMU Director Dr Duncan Onyango said financing resilience should be treated as a development priority rather than an optional undertaking or an expense. He said
10/14/26 • 45
NAKURU, Kenya, Oct 14 — The National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) has called for disaster risk reduction to be integrated into development planning and investment, warning that projects that overlook potential hazards could expose communities to new vulnerabilities.
📻 Breaking It Down
NDMU Director Dr Duncan Onyango said financing resilience should be treated as a development priority rather than an optional undertaking or an expense.
He said decisions on housing, land use, drainage, roads, bridges, schools, markets and other critical infrastructure must be guided by reliable risk data to ensure development gains are not undermined by disasters.
Speaking during the national commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) at Nyayo Gardens in Nakuru, Onyango called for stronger development controls, protection of environmentally sensitive areas, biodiversity conservation and resilient construction.
📌 What You Need to Know
He said investments should contribute to safer settlements and sustainable livelihoods, rather than create new risks for communities.
Onyango was accompanied by Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, Nakuru County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara and other senior national and county government officials.
Onyango said strengthening the transition from early warning to early action, supported by targeted alerts, was critical to reducing disaster risks and protecting lives.
“Risk information must reach the people who need it in a timely, understandable and accessible manner. Households and communities must know what actions to take, where to seek assistance and how to protect lives and livelihoods,” he said.
He said deliberations during the three-day 12th National Symposium for Disaster Risk Reduction, held ahead of the national commemoration, provided an opportunity for stakeholders to strengthen approaches to disaster management.
Onyango called for continued investment in multi-hazard early warning systems, impact-based forecasting, community-based communication, anticipatory action and preparedness measures to enable people to respond before hazards escalate into disasters.
📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya
